Sunday, December 7, 2014

Perhaps you are looking for something a little different in your fitness routine? Perhaps you are willing to be daring in your fitness activities?

A studio in West Des Moines, Iowa is changing its name to Club B-FIT in order to bring attention to its updated approach to "cutting edge" fitness. This gym, among other activities, is taking a special interest in aerial fitness activities.

Monday, December 1, 2014

And how do you keep that muscle in shape . . . exercise according to a recent article in the Des Moines Register. "Really, the health of your brain is a full-body issue," said Valerie Stickel-Diehl, a case manager at the Ruan Neuroscience Center at Mercy Medical Center. One of her roles is to provide information for patients with any brain-related diagnosis.

"Being physically, mentally, socially active and having a good diet are essential," said Dr. Heike Schmolck, a behavioral neurologist at Mercy. "If you look at big groups of people, the ones who are active are better off."

Monday, November 10, 2014

Despite our best efforts to have a great workout, it doesn't always pan out that way.

Depending on what you eat, drink, sleep and think -- these factors can all impact whether you have a good fitness experience or not. There are certain applications you can follow to put all of these factors in the right direction for success in your fitness activities. This article from the Wall Street Journal will enlighten you on what makes for consistently having good workouts.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

This post on the "Run To The Finish" blog features some very helpful hints on where to turn for nutrition expertise. You will learn some of the various definitions of different nutrition experts and their fields of focus . . . such as "registered dietitian".

You might be working your hardest and in the best shape of your life. However, better nutrition will help you make yourself even better.

Monday, October 27, 2014

How do you know what to do with some of the gym equipment you see when you to work out?

What are those balls, half balls, ropes and so forth? This post from the Des Moines Register will help you "decode" what some of these items are. Learn how a bosu, a foam roller, a medicine ball and other pieces of equipment are used and how you can incorporate them into your workouts.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

In a recent "Run To The Finish" blog, various "lessons learned" for runners are included in this entry. This post provides a variety of good lessons. Some of it may seem like common sense, but some you may have forgotten.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

If you are preparing for an upcoming race . . . let me guess - you'd like to finish at a certain time.

Training to hit a certain pace can be tricky . . . especially for beginning and intermediate runners. It can also be tough because it usually involves enhancing your level of training to a point that can be uncomfortable.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

According to a recent Runner's World article, a survey of runners revealed that shin splints is the most common injury keeping runners from running for at least a week. There are plenty of others, but this was the most prevalent.

Monday, October 6, 2014

A researcher with Iowa State University says running will prolong your life!

Well, this is good news for runners. A recent study conducted at ISU says so.

DC (Duck-chul) Lee, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of kinesiology at Iowa State, says runners were 45 percent less likely to die from heart disease or stroke than non-runners. Researchers followed more than 55,000 adults for 15 years to gauge the benefits of running. Lee says runners reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease regardless of distance, duration and speed.

Friday, October 3, 2014

A new study from Michigan State University shows students perform better in the classroom when they perform in the gym.

The study showed students who had a membership to an MSU recreational facility in their first two years of school had higher GPAs than those who didn't. Check out this post from MLive to learn more about the study.

Meanwhile, drop the snacks and grab some weights if you're looking to raise your college GPA!

Monday, September 29, 2014

We all want to be faster, better and more efficient. It really doesn't matter what exercise you choose. Check out this post from www.active.com. This article from Sarah Stanley outlines the strength training, nutrition and hydration techniques you can use to be a better runner.

Friday, September 5, 2014

As we approach the hottest time of year and school sport practices begin, treatment for heat stroke is key.

Experts say having the ability to "immediately cool" a heat stroke victim is a key to treatment. In other words, be prepared with the right tools beforehand to address heat stroke i. e. ice, cold water and/or a water hose.

Are you cooling down and letting your heart rate get back to normal? Are you stretching? Are you imbibing in post-workout celebratory drinks? See how these and other activities impact your fitness habits.

Friday, August 8, 2014

As my son struggled with the recent death of a friend with whom he played sports . . . and this is the second time in less than three years this has happened . . . this post reminded me to share the word about never taking those who are important to us for granted.

My son's friends meant a lot to him and obviously the inspiration of Cameron Slider meant a lot to her family. In the middle of a half marathon, she was making her way through the race and hours later, she was gone. This was recently reported in the Shut Up and Run blog.

We should never take for granted the inspiration of those who are important to us.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

If you are in the middle of getting ready for some races, don't forget your recovery.

This post from the Jess Runs blog highlights some great post-run recovery activities. She uses stretching and rollers to help recover from runs. Rest and yoga are also helpful recovery tools in the middle of training season.

About Me

My family and healthy physical activities are my biggest interests. I regularly compete in races and triathlons. I LOVE sports, especially the St. Louis Cardinal Baseball (Go Redbirds!) and Mizzou Football (Mizzou-rah!). Also enjoy current events and politics. I also try to keep up with new movies and music.